Title: Limiting Factors Wednesday 26

July 2023
LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

Why do you
think this plant
might have
died?

Roots growing in waterlogged soil

may die because they cannot absorb the oxygen
needed to function normally. 

Why do some plants die from too much watering?

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Explain how a greenhouse creates a better environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow
A ‘limiting factor’ is something that affects the rate of
photosynthesis (how much photosynthesis happens in a
certain amount of time).

Limiting factors include:

- Light intensity
- Temperature
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration
- Amount of water
It is called a limiting factor because it “limits” the reaction
from taking place.
How might climate change affect plants?

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow
Demo:
Investigating the effect of light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis.

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow
Distance from lamp Number of bubbles
to beaker (cm) given off per minute
10 15
20 7
30 3
40 1
50 0

Conclusion: complete the sentence (in your books):

As the distance from the lamp to beaker increases, the

number of bubbles given off per minute ____________.
decreases This
means that as light intensity decreases, the rate of
photosynthesis __________.
decreases

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

Photosynthesis and light – limiting factors

As the amount of light increases, so

1
rate of photosynthesis

does the rate. The limiting factor is

light.
2

2
Here, increasing the amount of light has
no effect on the rate. The limiting factor
is now carbon dioxide or temperature.
1
What must be increased for the rate to
light increase?
intensity

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

How does the amount of carbon dioxide affect the rate of photosynthesis on this
labelled graph?

1 As the amount of carbon dioxide goes up,

so does the rate. The limiting factor is
rate of photosynthesis

carbon dioxide.
2
2 Here, increasing the amount of carbon
dioxide has no effect on the rate. Light or
warmth is now the limiting factor.
1
What must be increased for the rate to
concentration of increase?
carbon dioxide

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

How does temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis on this labelled graph?

11. As temperature increases, so does the rate

rate of photosynthesis

because photosynthetic enzymes work

best in the warmth. Here, the limiting
factor is temperature.
2

1
2 Most plant enzymes are destroyed at about
45°C. Here, photosynthesis stops, and the
rate falls to zero.
0 oC temperature 45oC

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

increase
limiting factor

has no effect

temperature Carbon dioxide

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

increase
Limiting factor

has no effect

Temperature
Light intensity

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

increase
Limiting factor

optimum

decreasing
denatured

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

What does Belinda the farmer need to do

in order to grow the most crops?
Discuss with the person next to you and write your ideas down
on one of your whiteboards.

What kinds of things can she use

to try and make sure the plants get
what they need?

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

She needs to keep her plants in

the right conditions. She needs to:
- Keep them at the right
temperature
- Water her crops regularly
- Grow in areas with lots of light
- Increase the concentration of
carbon dioxide as much as
possible

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow
She can use a greenhouse to make sure the plants get what they need

Write down 3 reasons why plants

grow healthier inside a
greenhouse.
Hint: look carefully at its design
Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors
Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants
 LO: To investigate the best conditions for plants to grow

Blooket:
https://dashboard.blooket.com/set/61a8abfb059890654b0cab
57

Rules:
• Work in pairs, no threes – if odd number, work alone
• Use your actual names – no silly names
• Winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) get 2 positives

PREP: complete prep sheet (past exam questions)

Bronze: Describe what is meant by limiting factors

Silver: Interpret graphs showing how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis
Gold: Design a greenhouse with the best environment for growing plants